Each one of us is better

in a chosen circumstance

That’s what makes us equal

and what gives us all a chance

to taste a bit of glory

and to chew a little dirt

you can count your blessings,

but not what this life is worth,

as with folded paper promises,

we divide ourselves, and still

A prayer is just a prayer,

from the gutter or the hill

A prayer is just a prayer

A prayer is just a prayer

You can make a prison

of a mansion in your mind,

But you can’t lock a spirit down

in cell block number nine

It’s not what’s in your wallet,

and it’s not who plays what part

It’s all about the kindness

and the love inside your heart,

as with folded paper promises,

we divide ourselves, and still

A prayer is just a prayer,

from the gutter or the hill

A prayer is just a prayer

A prayer is just a prayer

When our souls are crying,

when we’re drowning in the pain,

our teardrops fall from diff’rent heights,

but they all run down the same.

as with folded paper promises,

we divide ourselves, and still

A prayer is just a prayer,

from the gutter or the hill

A prayer is just a prayer

A prayer is just a prayer

A prayer is just a prayer

In your mind,

you think you’ve got it figured

Clear straight line, drawn from A to B

Road looks smooth—

love is so deceiving

Oh yeah, you’d better watch your speed

She’s a blind curve—

you never see her comin’

She’s a blind curve—

a nasty stretch of road

She’s a blind curve—

she forgives you nothin’

She’s a blind curve—

by now you ought to know

She’s a blind curve

She won’t hear

how smart or rich you are

She don’t care

about the plans you made

Change your life,

quick as “wait a minute”

Hard turn right,

time to test your brakes

She’s a blind curve—

you never see her comin’

She’s a blind curve—

a nasty stretch of road

She’s a blind curve—

she forgives you nothin’

She’s a blind curve—

by now you ought to know

She’s a blind curve

Long straight hair—

you said you liked it curly

Well-built girl—

you would have guessed petite

Warm brown eyes—

you thought that blue was cooler

She’s all wrong,

but right as love can be

She’s a blind curve—

you never see her comin’

She’s a blind curve—

a nasty stretch of road

She’s a blind curve—

she forgives you nothin’

She’s a blind curve—

by now you ought to know

She’s a blind curve

She’s a blind curve

She’s a blind curve

Time slips by like pocket change,

falling down between

the cushions of life’s sofa

where it waits for you and me—

where paper clips and promises

gather in the seams

and bubble gum

and buttons smuggle

candy wrapper dreams

Life’s best things are the little things

forget your great big plans

The more you try to hold onto

the more slips through your hands

So take some time

to make some friends,

to cultivate a rose

Do your best, for in the end,

ev’rybody knows

Time slips by like pocket change,

falling down between

the cushions of life’s sofa

where it waits for you and me—

where paper clips and promises

gather in the seams

and bubble gum

and buttons smuggle

candy wrapper dreams

We all worry, we all hurry—

so much time we spend

on things we find out, far too late

don’t matter in the end

So take a taste of life and let it

rest upon your tongue

Just remember, once you swallow,

one more bite is gone

Time slips by like pocket change,

falling down between

the cushions of life’s sofa

where it waits for you and me—

where paper clips and promises

gather in the seams

and bubble gum

and buttons smuggle

candy wrapper dreams

Time slips by like pocket change

Time slips by like pocket change

Time slips by like pocket change

Time slips by like pocket change

Time slips by like pocket change

I dreamed I’d be a fireman,

a cop, a cook, the president,

an astronaut, a hero on the big screen

And while I was a movie star,

I’d win the Indie in a car

I built from scratch

with my own clumsy fingers

I told the Lord how great I’d be,

he wouldn’t listen, he’d just say

Play a song for me—

I like the sweet ones

I thought he didn’t hear, I spent

half my life not listenin’

and saying “no”,

that I had clumsy fingers

and saying “no”,

that I had clumsy fingers

I dreamed I’d be the star of stars,

I tried my best, I worked real hard

to find out dreams aren’t

always what they should be

A wife, three kids we never planned,

a grounded star, a lucky man,

a life built straight and strong

with clumsy fingers

At forty-five I found the time,

the Lord said play, I said I’ll try,

but help me so you’re

not too disappointed

I feel him smiling as I play

a sour note, I hear him say

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers

So as I struggle, while I sing,

if my fingers find the strings

and strike a chord in you

that you’ll remember—

a note not found on my guitar,

a lick I plucked right from my heart,

the kind you stumble on

with clumsy fingers

Then don’t be bashful, play along,

help me with this simple song and

thank a patient Lord

for clumsy fingers

I told the Lord how great I’d be,

he wouldn’t listen, he’d just say

Play a song for me—

I like the sweet ones, and

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers ‘n

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers

I love the soulful sound

of clumsy fingers

Sunlight fading, distant landscape,

different heading, common road

Shiny fenders, faithful junk-heap

share the same warm headlight glow

I remember what you’re feeling—

confident you’ve what it takes

Deceptive curve,

your tires are squealing—

no one makes it without brakes

There are things no one can teach you,

twists and turns upon life’s road

There’s no map that I can give to

help direct your restless soul—

to curb your need to speed off to some destination still unknown

Destination still unknown

Hunger, like an engine, drives you

Love provides some wicked turns

All life’s fuel explodes inside you

Dreams are octane—feed the burn

No directions, only limits,

screamed from signs

that crowd the road

You want purpose, speed won’t give it

Wisdom’s journey is so damn slow

There are things no one can teach you,

twists and turns upon life’s road

There’s no map that I can give to

help direct your restless soul—

to curb your need to speed off to some destination still unknown

Destination still unknown

Eighty miles ahead of daybreak,

hot rubber on a concrete road,

Your dreams rattle in your suitcase

with every prayer my heart knows

There are things no one can teach you,

twists and turns upon life’s road

There’s no map that I can give to

help direct your restless soul—

to curb your need to speed off to some destination still unknown

Destination still unknown

Destination still unknown

Destination still unknown

I think I see my father

in my grandson’s smile

I Wonder if his spirit

might be hanging out a while

Stirring up the magic

that is shining in his eyes

Tickling his toes

as he turns from side to side

Sawyer Henry, Sawyer Henry,

tell me won’t you please?

What’s that hint of mischief

in the smile you smile for me?

In your eyes

that have yet to show their color

I see a rainbow,

unlike any other

I see mommy—I see daddy—

I see something more—

the features of faces

of those who’ve come before

Sawyer Henry, Sawyer Henry,

tell me won’t you please?

Sawyer Henry, won’t you tell me

who it is I see?

Staring at my lips,

you try to mouth the words

Could it be you’re hearing

what no one else has heard?

There’s an ageless wisdom

in your jabbering and coos—

studying your face,

I search for wordless clues

Sawyer Henry, Sawyer Henry,

tell me won’t you please?

Sawyer Henry, what is it

you’re tryin’ to say to me?

I think I see my father

in my grandson’s smile

I Wonder if his spirit

might be hanging out a while

She brings me kisses and whiskey—

lets her long hair tumble down

She knows ev’rything I could be—

loves me for what I am now

All I see is that she loves me

All I feel is her silky hair

All I know is what she tells me

when her heartbeat is all I hear

She brings me kisses and whiskey—

lets her long hair tumble down

She knows ev’rything I could be—

loves me for what I am now

When I’m feeling mostly broken—

not much left to hold onto

Before a single word is spoken,

she knows just what to do

She brings me kisses and whiskey

as her long hair tumbles down

She is more intoxicating

than any brand of bourbon I have found

She brings me kisses and whiskey—

lets her long hair tumble down

She knows ev’rything I could be—

loves me for what I am now

loves me for what I am now

loves me for what I am now

loves me for what I am now

I pour a cup of coffee—

start waking up the sun—

let it know it’s time again to rise

Coaxing it to try to find

its way around the clouds

It’s alright we all get lost sometimes

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

When ev’ry day is just another day

As it starts peeking through,

I see that it is sad—

it has far few worshipers these days

I thank it for the good it’s done

and ask it not to heed

the murmuring about its evil rays

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

When ev’ry day is just another day

Yes, it’s hard to shine

It’s the same sad song

No one notices ‘til it’s gone—

gone for days and days

and when it comes beaming back—

how quickly it burns away our praise

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

When ev’ry day is just another day

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay

Sometimes it’s hard to shine

When ev’ry day is just another day

I pour a cup of coffee—

start waking up the sun—

let it know it’s time again to rise

Coaxing it to try to find

its way around the clouds

It’s alright we all get lost sometimes

And it’s hard, hard to shine

Hard to shine—hard to shine

Hard to shine—hard to shine

Hard to shine—hard to shine

I’ve never been accused

of being handsome,

of being polished or refined—

With me you’re betting on a long shot—

Don’t be countin’ on some prize

I’ll do anything you ask me to—

I’ll try anything you say,

but if you plan to make a masterpiece

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

There are no trophies on my mantel

You might find somethin’ good to say

But if you’re tryin’ to make a hero,

you need to do a little more than pray

I’ll do anything you ask me to—

I’ll try anything you say,

but if you plan to make a masterpiece

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

Good God you’ve done amazing things

with damaged goods

and broken dreams,

but tell me what is it you see?

What can you make of the likes of me?

I’ll do anything you ask me to—

I’ll try anything you say,

but if you plan to make a masterpiece

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of

I’ll do anything you ask me to—

I’ll try anything you say,

but if you plan to make a masterpiece

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

you should have started with

a diff’rent lump of clay

I thank ev’ry woman

who broke my heart—

I won’t name names—

they know who they are

It started with red-head

in the seventh grade—

a perky brunette at the end of eighth

Freshman year an older woman

caught my eye

Junior year blondie taught me

how, now I . . .

I thank ev’ry woman

who broke my heart—

I won’t name names—

they know who they are

It hurt like Hell,

but I can’t complain—

Hell is just the absence of a

heavenly flame, heavenly flame,

heavenly flame

A big brass button

from a bright red dress—

a few dark secrets

that I won’t confess—

a blue silk ribbon

and a page-pressed rose—

faded and dried up,

and Good Lord knows

I thank ev’ry woman

who broke my heart—

I won’t name names—

they know who they are

It hurt like Hell,

but I can’t complain—

Hell is just the absence of a

heavenly flame, heavenly flame,

heavenly flame

Holes in my heart

is all they left,

but around the edges

there’s some tenderness

I see their eyes,

as I stare right through—

marble-green

and bird-shell blue

I thank ev’ry woman

who broke my heart—

I won’t name names—

they know who they are

It hurt like Hell,

but I can’t complain—

Hell is just the absence

of a heavenly flame,

heavenly flame—

Hell is just the absence

of a heavenly flame,

heavenly flame,

heavenly flame

If you were to judge him

by his simple clothes,

his quiet demeanor,

you would never know

He taught the world to fight back,

in a different way,

And his favorite weapon

was to fast for days and days

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

by the power of your heart,

not the anger in your hands

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

If you want to know

the true measure of a man

Twenty-seven years in a prison cell,

You’d think that he’d be bitter—

wish they’d all go straight to hell

Instead he chose forgiveness—

he had a simple plan

to build a better future,

together, hand in hand

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

by the power of your heart,

not the anger in your hands

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

If you want to know

the true measure of a man

Mother Teresa, though aged and frail

taught us strength of spirit

is the one thing that prevails

Attending to the sick,

the poorest of the poor,

never once questioning

what her life was for

Measure yourself against a

Mother Teresa

by the power of your heart,

not the anger in your hands

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

If you want to know

the true measure of a man

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

by the power of your heart,

not the anger in your hands

Measure yourself against a

Gandhi or Mandela

If you want to know

the true measure of a man

Rose bud lips entice and hide

a cutting tongue that waits inside

each time my courage starts to rise

her jagged words cut me to size

She’s rough around the edges, Lord

Her slender stems I just adore

I love her fragrance but I’m torn

between her petals and her thorns

Beyond her surface, past my pride,

I long to sip just one more time

the nectar of her hazel eyes

and soft seduction of her sighs

She’s rough around the edges, Lord

Her slender stems I just adore

I love her fragrance but I’m torn

between her petals and her thorns

For ev’ry cut that I endured

and ev’ry tear drop that I poured

another blossom has come forth

with love’s perfume as sweet reward

She’s rough around the edges,

Lord Her slender stems I just adore

I love her fragrance but I’m torn

between her petals and her thorns

between her petals and her thorns

between her petals and her thorns

School is okay, I kinda don’t mind.

Work is a bore, I’m glad it’s part time

When I get bugged

and I need to unwind,

I hop on my board and I go for a ride

I do the tic tac, dark slide

and pop shuvit

ollie, nollie, nose grind,

kick flippin’—I love it

New grip tape and I’m

rock ‘n’ rolling just fine

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit—

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit

There’re grabs and there’re stalls, street tricks and grinds,

a switchie a fakie

and some I ain’t tried

I’m scraped and I’m bruised

but really don’t mind,

I’m getting’ better

and healin’ each time

I do the tic tac, dark slide

and pop shuvit

ollie, nollie, nose grind,

kick flippin’—I love it

New grip tape and I’m

rock ‘n’ rolling just fine

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit—

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit

Droppin’ in a half pipe,

I’m pumpin’ faster.

Headin’ up, I plan to land

a sweet disaster

The elusive three sixty

that comes after,

is the wildest wipe-out

I’ve ever mastered

I do the tic tac, dark slide

and pop shuvit

ollie, nollie, nose grind,

kick flippin’—I love it

New grip tape and I’m

rock ‘n’ rolling just fine

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit—

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit

Axle stall, heel flip, share the wealth skateboarding’s cooler

than anything else

I can skate with my friends—

I can challenge myself

And if I get down, it always helps . . .

To do the tic tac, dark slide

and pop shuvit

ollie, nollie, nose grind,

kick flippin’—I love it

New grip tape and I’m

rock ‘n’ rolling just fine

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit

Ohh—ohh—pop shuvit